Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
I gasped. “Yes! Do you have any left?”
“We do, would you, um, like that as well? A slice or…”
“The whole pie,” Wes and I said at the same time.
Once we had all our goodies, we headed back outside to the waiting Uber. It took everything I had not to dig into the white box. Wes held the bag, and every time I reached over, he moved it away.
“Patience, we’ll be back home soon.”
The way he said home made my insides warm.
“Do you have milk?”
He nodded. “Yep.”
“My mouth is watering. I don’t know what I want first!”
Laughing, Wes said, “I love seeing you like this.”
“Like what?” I asked as the car stopped and Wes got out with the goods. I quickly followed.
“So happy and carefree. When you smile, it makes me happy.”
I lifted and gently kissed his mouth. “I feel this way because of you.”
He grinned and his cheeks turned a slight shade of pink. “I feel the same way, Clare.”
Once we were in Wes’s place, I kicked off my shoes and headed into the kitchen. “Milk?”
“Yes, please. Also, I have some paper plates in the pantry if you want to grab some.”
I put the two glasses of milk down on the table as Wes opened both boxes. “Do we have pie first?”
Sinking down onto the sofa, I looked between both boxes. “I don’t know. I want a cannoli, but that pie looks so good.”
Wes stood and headed to the kitchen as he said, “Let’s do both.”
I rubbed my hands together. “I think I want the peanut butter cannoli.”
Sitting back down, Wes started to cut the pie.
“Oh, bigger than that!”
He looked at me. “How do you stay so fit with the way you eat?”
I shrugged. “I love food. It’s a good thing I like going to the gym also.”
Smiling, he cut two pieces of pie and placed a slice on each plate. I cut the cannoli in half and gave him the bigger half.
“Which one should we eat first?” he asked.
Staring at the desserts on our plates, I chewed on my lower lip. “This is a hard decision, but I say let’s eat the cannoli first. Then we can savor the pie.”
And we did just that. With the Christmas tree lit up, the lights turned down and Jumanji, The Next Level, on the TV, Wes and I snuggled under a blanket. It was one of the best nights of my life, and I found myself not wanting it to end. Much like all the other times we had spent together. It didn’t take me long before I lost the battle and fell asleep.
A light touch on my arm caused me to open my eyes. Wes was looking down at me with a soft smile on his handsome face.
“How about we head to bed?”
I stretched and stood. “I’m so tired.”
Wes reached down and lifted me as if I was as light as a feather. A small squeal slipped free as I wrapped my arms around his neck.
“Come on, princess, let’s get you to bed.”
I wasn’t about to argue with that as I nuzzled my face into his chest. By the time he laid me down, I had already started to doze off. I felt the weight of the bed shift, and the warmth of Wes was up against my back as he drew me closer to him.
He kissed the back of my head and whispered, “Goodnight, Clare.”
Letting out a contented sigh, I closed my eyes, smiled, and replied, “Sleep good, Wes.”
• • •
The next morning, I woke up before Wes. I slipped out of the bed, washed my face, and brushed my teeth with the toothbrush I had left here when I stayed at Wes’s place when he was sick. I tiptoed out of the bedroom and softly shut the door before I headed into the kitchen. First thing was to make myself some tea, and Wes some coffee. After a quick search of his pantry and the fridge, I decided to make biscuits and gravy.
“Good morning, princess.”
The endearment caused my entire body to heat, and when I turned to see an unshaven Wes, messed-up hair, and a T-shirt with sweats on, the temperature in my body went up.
“Why is it you can look so sexy when you wake up, but I look like I haven’t slept in days?”
He grinned, then pulled me to him, kissing me gently. “I think you look beautiful.”
My arms moved up his body and around his neck. “You know, I have to get you a Christmas present still.”
He raised his brows. “I know exactly what you can get me, and it doesn’t even involve you leaving this place or spending a dime.”
I chuckled. “Oh, but Mr. Ward, that is a gift you can have anytime.”
“Is that so?” Wes asked, pushing his arousal into my stomach. “Will breakfast burn if we head to the bedroom?”